Law Firms Anticipate Turkey Day, Hand Out Free Birds

Turkeys aren’t just flying off the supermarket shelves as Thanksgiving Day nears.

A number of law firms are giving the holiday birds away, hoping to help others and in appreciation of their own good fortune.

In Florida, the Pendas Law Firm gave away 1,000 turkeys in Fort Myers over the weekend, 1,000 turkeys in Tampa on Monday and 1,500 in Orlando on Tuesday, on a first-come, first-serve basis, Central Florida News 13 reports. The giveaway is in its fourth year, and Lou Pendas said he decided to increase the number of birds from 1,000 to 1,500 in Orlando this year because he felt bad last year when several hundred people stood in line for turkeys to no avail.

People had begun waiting at the law firm’s offices in Orlando by 4:30 a.m., the station reports, and by 7:30 a.m., when the giveaway began, the line was several blocks long.

In the Albany, N.Y., area, two military veterans at the helm of Tully Rinkey hosted a giveaway for fellow veterans, also for the fourth year in a row. Although the law firm in the past has purchased the birds, this year Hannaford Supermarkets donated 120 turkeys, Spotlight News reports.

“No veteran will be turned away. If we run out, we’ll go out and buy more,” managing partner Greg T. Rinckey told the newspaper chain, adding: “Everyone thinks of them on Veterans Day, but veterans should always be remembered. Matt and I have a special place in our hearts for them,” referring to founding partner Matthew Tully.

The first 60 turkeys were gone in 20 minutes.

In South Florida, three law firms teamed up to deliver holiday baskets with all the trimmings for a Thanksgiving dinner to 500 homes, CBS Miami reports.